Julia Seaton
About
Hello! I have taught violin lessons for the last seven years. I graduated from Azusa Pacific University in May 2022 with a bachelor's degree in violin performance. During my four years at university, I performed and recorded with the university’s two orchestras. My work with APU’s Symphony Orchestra focused on traditional concert repertoire such as Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, with frequent collaborations with the university's various choirs. In addition, my work with APU’s Studio Orchestra provided the opportunity to play film- and game-soundtrack music. While studying abroad at the University of Oxford during fall 2021, I performed as a first violinist with the Oxford University Orchestra.
I have performed in chamber music from 2014 to 2022 with every number of members from two to six. I have also enjoyed performing in various unique concerts such as debuting my friends' original compositions, performing in a televised concert of “Christmas in Arabic," accompanying an erhu and hand bells in orchestra concerts, collaborating on recordings of choral and funk arrangements, and switching between singing and playing violin in a small jazz ensemble.
Teaching Style
I began teaching violin in 2015 and switched to an online format in 2017 to accommodate a student who was moving out-of-state. In addition to teaching private violin lessons for the last seven years, I have taught some piano and volunteered to coach strings at a community youth opera summer camp.
Apart from music, my general teaching experience includes volunteering as a tutor/mentor for elementary and high school students considered at-risk academically, financially, and/or socially; helping third-graders create their own e-books in an online summer camp; teaching English as a foreign language online; and helping peers with the writing process through my university's writing center.
My goal with every student is to foster a love of music through a blend of challenge and adaptability. I am energetic, patient, and reliable. I believe that mistakes are a natural part of learning and nothing to be afraid of -- they mean that you are pushing yourself to new heights! I am always happy to accept new students and share my love of music.
Curriculum
I adapt my curriculum to the individual student's goals! Typically, my students learn scales (Flesch), etudes (Kreutzer), and shifting exercises (Yost). I also find technique exercises on an as-needed basis from Fischer's "Basics." For repertoire starting at the beginner level, this is my standard trajectory:
1. Essential Elements Book 1
2. Suzuki Violin Books 2-4
3. Student concertos as assigned
For students interested in fiddle music, I recommend Robin Williamson's book of fiddle tunes. If you want to learn specific songs, I can help you with that too!
I encourage my online students to perform by arranging small recitals or by recording their work. I have experience in mixing music videos, so all the student needs to do is record their part(s) and I take care of the rest!